V. K. R. V. Rao

V. K. R. V. Rao (Vijayendra Kasturi Ranga Varadaraja Rao), விஜேந்திர ராவ்(1908–1991) was a prominent Indian economist, politician, professor and educator. He was born in a Tamil family on 8 July 1908 at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu to Kasturirangachar and Bharati Amma.

He had his early schooling in Tindivanam and Madras (Chennai). He was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. He served as a Union Minister for the Education in 1971, elected as member for Bellary in 1967 and 1971. He was awarded a Ph.D. in 1937 from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. The title of his doctoral thesis was "The national income of British India, 1931-1932". He studied with John Maynard Keynes.

Rao received many awards that include: Cobdon Club Medal in Political Economy (1927), Lord Minto Scholarship (1927–29), Dakshina Fellowship (1927–29), Madan Memorial Lecture in Indian Currency, Bombay (1931), Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai Traveling Fellowship, Bombay University (1932–35), Carton Studentship in Social Sciences, Great Britain (1934–36), Sir Thomas Greshan Research Studentship, Caius College, Cambridge (1934–36) Adam Smith Prize, Cambridge and Dadabhai Nauroji Memorial Prize (1934). Academic Honours include Honorary D.Litt. from Delhi, Jabalpore, Indore, Andhra and Nagpur Universities, Hon D.C.L. from Oxford University, Honorary Professorship of Osmania, Andhra Universities, Hon. Fellowship of Conville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Rao established three noted institutions in Social Science research in India: Delhi School of Economics, Institute of Economic Growth and the Institute for Social and Economic Change. He was also instrumental in establishing the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Agro-economic Centres and Population Research Centres. He created an autonomous public body in the form of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. This was established under the Societies Registration Act (1860) on 30 July 1969 at Delhi. All the 3 institutions founded by him, even today maintain very close intra-institutional relationship. Another organization that owes its present prominence to Rao’s vision is the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. He was the third president of Delhi Karnataka Sangha.

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